Growing fruit in the yard. Backyard Orchard Culture. - Atheist Nexus2015-03-03T19:39:05Zhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/forum/topics/growing-fruit-in-the-yard?groupUrl=godlessinthegarden&commentId=2182797%3AComment%3A2104873&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noMonica, thanks! Home orchard…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-11-20:2182797:Comment:21048732012-11-20T03:31:39.555ZDaniel Whttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Daniel57
<p>Monica, thanks! Home orchards are great! You can get such good fruit, you'll never want grocery fruit again.</p>
<p>Monica, thanks! Home orchards are great! You can get such good fruit, you'll never want grocery fruit again.</p> I'm keeping my mulberry prune…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-05-10:2182797:Comment:19474502012-05-10T04:09:12.266ZDaniel Whttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Daniel57
<p>I'm keeping my mulberry pruned small - not more than 7 or 8 feet tall once it gets to that. Currently is is only 3 years old and 4 feet tall. I prune it to train for a well branched, open center tree. That way, I can cover with a net to keep birds out, and I can reach all of the berries without a ladder. That's my theory - I'm not aware this has been done. It works with figs, which are distant cousins. And with many other fruit trees.</p>
<p>I'm keeping my mulberry pruned small - not more than 7 or 8 feet tall once it gets to that. Currently is is only 3 years old and 4 feet tall. I prune it to train for a well branched, open center tree. That way, I can cover with a net to keep birds out, and I can reach all of the berries without a ladder. That's my theory - I'm not aware this has been done. It works with figs, which are distant cousins. And with many other fruit trees.</p> I'm double posting this pic b…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-04-13:2182797:Comment:19248502012-04-13T03:50:22.243ZDaniel Whttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Daniel57
<p>I'm double posting this pic because the comment thread is transient, and it's relevant here. Sweet cherries are either in bloom, or about to. This year they have the most flowers ever. Here is the maintenance pruning I did July 18th - </p>
<p>*</p>
<p>Before</p>
<p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__i_r1swHge8/TEOmMJRxcHI/AAAAAAAADzk/Yxqn4OEJD1k/s1600/gg+cherry+2.JPG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__i_r1swHge8/TEOmMJRxcHI/AAAAAAAADzk/Yxqn4OEJD1k/s1600/gg+cherry+2.JPG"></img></a></p>
<p>after…</p>
<p></p>
<p>I'm double posting this pic because the comment thread is transient, and it's relevant here. Sweet cherries are either in bloom, or about to. This year they have the most flowers ever. Here is the maintenance pruning I did July 18th - </p>
<p>*</p>
<p>Before</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__i_r1swHge8/TEOmMJRxcHI/AAAAAAAADzk/Yxqn4OEJD1k/s1600/gg+cherry+2.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__i_r1swHge8/TEOmMJRxcHI/AAAAAAAADzk/Yxqn4OEJD1k/s1600/gg+cherry+2.JPG" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>after</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__i_r1swHge8/TEOmL1X9y4I/AAAAAAAADzc/NsgmELNuyvk/s1600/gg+cherries+after.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__i_r1swHge8/TEOmL1X9y4I/AAAAAAAADzc/NsgmELNuyvk/s1600/gg+cherries+after.JPG" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>*</p>
<p>I took off about 3 or 4 feet of new growth, leaving about 6 inches on each branch. I also cleared some center growth because, unlike California, we don't get so much sun here in SW Washington. When I do this, I always think "I've ruined the trees for next year's crop". But here they are now. The L tree is not quite in full bloom. The right tree branches are covered with flower bud clusters - the most ever.</p>
<p>*</p>
<p><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-15x5DAxNNv8/T4d2T2EqAVI/AAAAAAAAFE4/sl1TBuxaAlk/s400/front%2Byard%2Borchard.jpg"/></p>
<p></p>
<p>Similar, this Hollywood plum. I don't know if it will get many or any fruit - we had frost when it was in bloom. The flowers are beautiful, pink flowers. The leaves and plums are maroon. Even the plum juice is maroon. They are so much better than grocery plums, they don't seem like the same species.</p>
<p><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mBv4KvZzA7c/T4d2U8KVJ5I/AAAAAAAAFFE/oTJ4miwCXrQ/s400/hollywood%2Bplum.jpg"/></p>
<p>This is my little backyard orchard, or part of it. The trees in bloom include a 5-variety grafted pear, another sweet cherry, and a 3-variety grafted sweet cherry. The multi's take some special care but have the advantage of various ripening times, different fruit varieties, and superior pollination. Horticulturalists pan them as gimmicks. I have several and I like them, but they take care not to allow a vigorous branch to dominate the less vigorous.</p>
<p><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-723-XQci1eE/T4d2TEE9erI/AAAAAAAAFEs/y903bSUdsRQ/s400/backyard%2Borchard.jpg"/></p>
<p>Below is a 3-variety grafted Asian pear. Asian pears are SO GOOD. And like the plums, the grocery varieties are no competition. This tree is in its 4th year.</p>
<p><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HVRo9PsUGJE/T4d2Svied7I/AAAAAAAAFEg/WV_hoD9s-Og/s400/asian%2Bpear.jpg"/></p>
<p></p> No Black Mission. I have Kin…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2011-09-16:2182797:Comment:16475692011-09-16T03:58:54.237ZDaniel Whttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Daniel57
<p>No Black Mission. I have King, White Marseilles (Lattarula, Blanche), Petite negri, Brunswick (Magnolia), and Hardy Chicago. Most of them I grew from cuttings. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>A lot of the information on growing figs came from a Georgia website.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have some plum seeds planted, but no idea about what will happen with them.</p>
<p>No Black Mission. I have King, White Marseilles (Lattarula, Blanche), Petite negri, Brunswick (Magnolia), and Hardy Chicago. Most of them I grew from cuttings. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>A lot of the information on growing figs came from a Georgia website.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have some plum seeds planted, but no idea about what will happen with them.</p> If your climate supports cher…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2010-04-29:2182797:Comment:8081122010-04-29T02:40:31.266ZDaniel Whttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Daniel57
If your climate supports cherries, peaches, apricots, you can grow figs, I'm sure. Fig forum on gardenweb.com has a numbe rof Arizona fig fanatics, and they know lots of varieties that grow well there. Some of them will provide cuttings or starts, probably. I've mailed off lots of cuttings from mine, but it may be too late in the spring to start new fig cuttings. They usually start bearing figs in 2 or 3 years, in my experience, but bearing lots &amp; lots of figs in 4 or 5 years.<br />
<br />
Grapes…
If your climate supports cherries, peaches, apricots, you can grow figs, I'm sure. Fig forum on gardenweb.com has a numbe rof Arizona fig fanatics, and they know lots of varieties that grow well there. Some of them will provide cuttings or starts, probably. I've mailed off lots of cuttings from mine, but it may be too late in the spring to start new fig cuttings. They usually start bearing figs in 2 or 3 years, in my experience, but bearing lots &amp; lots of figs in 4 or 5 years.<br />
<br />
Grapes should do equally well, if you can grow apples and stone fruits. Actually, also equally easy from cuttings. It takes about 1 year longer to get grapes from cuttings than from a purchased start.<br />
<br />
SOunds like you have a fantastic place! Are you taking boarders?
Don…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2010-04-28:2182797:Comment:8078442010-04-28T19:20:22.901ZDaniel Whttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Daniel57
Are you taking boarders?<br />
<br />
Don't worry, my fruit trees are my babies, I would have to bring them with me! I grew the figs from cuttings and most of the others from small baby whips.<br />
<br />
This winter I added a mulberry and 2 more minidwarf apples - one is a Dutch variety, Karmijn, the other is Honeycrisp. The mulberry is starting to leaf out. I will also prune it to maintain low branching and a final height low enough to cover with netting to keep the birds out, and low enough to pick the mulberries…
Are you taking boarders?<br />
<br />
Don't worry, my fruit trees are my babies, I would have to bring them with me! I grew the figs from cuttings and most of the others from small baby whips.<br />
<br />
This winter I added a mulberry and 2 more minidwarf apples - one is a Dutch variety, Karmijn, the other is Honeycrisp. The mulberry is starting to leaf out. I will also prune it to maintain low branching and a final height low enough to cover with netting to keep the birds out, and low enough to pick the mulberries by hand.<br />
<br />
We are on our "3rd wave" of blooms - first the peaches, apricots, plums; then the sweet cherries, early apples, and pears, now the sour cherry and late apples. Next the grapes, although the blooms are not so attractive to human eyes. Figs are forming for the summer crop.<br />
<br />
Sounds like a huge orchard, really just a very messy suburban yard. Thanks so much for the great…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2010-02-03:2182797:Comment:7115052010-02-03T21:56:15.896ZApril Vailhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/AprilVail
Thanks so much for the great info! My peach tree may be a little large for bagging up (though we'll see what I'm saying next year). I guess the spray is my best bet. I'm glad there are organic sprays out there at least.<br />
<br />
Thanks for the podcast suggestion! I hadn't heard of it before. It's great to find such locally pertinent knowledge!
Thanks so much for the great info! My peach tree may be a little large for bagging up (though we'll see what I'm saying next year). I guess the spray is my best bet. I'm glad there are organic sprays out there at least.<br />
<br />
Thanks for the podcast suggestion! I hadn't heard of it before. It's great to find such locally pertinent knowledge! Hi April,
Leaf curl on peach…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2010-01-03:2182797:Comment:6728172010-01-03T13:48:00.699ZDaniel Whttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Daniel57
Hi April,<br />
<br />
Leaf curl on peaches is frustrating. It is caused by a fungus. The spores wash into buds during fall and winter rains, and start growing when the leaves and flowers grow. Once it starts in leaves and buds, those leaves and buds can't be cured, they have to die off and be replaced. If the tree is healthy otherwise and hasn't been too overwhelmed, the new leaves that start after rainy season will get it through the year, until the cycle begins again.<br />
<br />
I control leaf curl by a 2-step…
Hi April,<br />
<br />
Leaf curl on peaches is frustrating. It is caused by a fungus. The spores wash into buds during fall and winter rains, and start growing when the leaves and flowers grow. Once it starts in leaves and buds, those leaves and buds can't be cured, they have to die off and be replaced. If the tree is healthy otherwise and hasn't been too overwhelmed, the new leaves that start after rainy season will get it through the year, until the cycle begins again.<br />
<br />
I control leaf curl by a 2-step method. I agree it's intense. My trees are genetic dwarf varieties, and grow to 4 to 6 feet tall, so more like bushes. In early winter, I spray them with an organic copper fungicide spray. Then I bundle the branches together, and tie them, then cover with plastic bags, and tie those. That way, no rain reaches the branches. In March, when it looks like the buds are swelling, I unbundle the branches. I've only done this once (2009) but had bumper crop with no leaf curl, for the first time.<br />
<br />
A better solution is to have leaf-curl resistant varieties. For that, you probably have to peruse the internet and get them via mail order - not sure if they can be shipped into California.<br />
<br />
As for "nature", the vast majority of our fruits and vegetables are far from where they originated, and have been bred for size, flavor, production, and more recently, shipping qualities. Disease resistance was not a factor in most breeding programs. So, we have to deal with the result. <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?History-Of-Peach-Trees,-Prunus-Persica&amp;id=330903" target="_blank">Peaches originated in South China</a>, and cultivation spread West from there through Persia, ultimately Rome and Europe, then to the Americas by the Europeans.<br />
<br />
You can probably get really good advice from the <a href="http://davisgardenshow.com/" target="_blank">gardening podcast out of Davi</a>s on KDRT . Your climate is a bit milder than mine, and longer season, but I love listening to that program anyway. I'm a big fan of growing our…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2010-01-03:2182797:Comment:6726802010-01-03T07:37:21.020ZApril Vailhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/AprilVail
I'm a big fan of growing our own food. In my northern California climate I'm growing lemon, lime, mandarin, grapefruit, white peach, Italian plum, d'anjou pear, asian pear, hollyleaf cherry (California native), almond, and apricot trees in my backyard. It's a medium/large suburban yard but we've got a swimming pool smack in the middle, so the trees pretty much line the fences. I originally planned on espaliering, but chickened out as it seemed more high-maintenance than I'm ready for. Most of…
I'm a big fan of growing our own food. In my northern California climate I'm growing lemon, lime, mandarin, grapefruit, white peach, Italian plum, d'anjou pear, asian pear, hollyleaf cherry (California native), almond, and apricot trees in my backyard. It's a medium/large suburban yard but we've got a swimming pool smack in the middle, so the trees pretty much line the fences. I originally planned on espaliering, but chickened out as it seemed more high-maintenance than I'm ready for. Most of the trees are semi-dwarf and are planted about 6-8 ft apart. I also have a fuji apple, pomegranate, and a couple pineapple guavas planted out front where I water only frequently. Just recently learned that there are dwarf fig trees, so I'll be sure to plant one!<br />
<br />
How did you fend off the curly leaf on your peach tree? Is there a natural way to do this? (How do peach trees survive in nature? (do they?) I haven't sprayed my peach tree for the past 4 years. It usually gets a little curl in the early spring. Once the weather heats up though, the curled leaves fall and the remaining leaves are fine. Last year though.... the whole tree got the curl and all the leaves fell! New ones came though and it still produced, but only about a 3rd of the prior year's yield.<br />
<br />
We get occasional freezes here (recently down to about 24F) and I've learned a few tidbits to help the less hardy plants.<br />
1) Using x-mas lights on our lime tree only saved the foliage right next to the lights.<br />
2) Using a floodlamp under our lemon tree saved many fruits in roughly a 3 ft wide column going up through the tree. No lemon tree foliage was damaged by the freeze, but a few lemons that were out of the warming column have started rotting.<br />
3) One pineapple sage plant died back completely to the ground from the freeze while a taller one growing beneath a tree suffered no die back at all. So, exposure (to the cold night sky?) seems to make a big difference.<br />
<br />
For future freezes, I'll try a combination of floodlamp below and a sheet above to save the less hardy fruit trees. There have also been some thr…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2009-12-07:2182797:Comment:6361292009-12-07T07:32:45.449ZDaniel Whttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Daniel57
There have also been some threads on GerdenWeb about use of human urine, and the old Organic Gardening and Farming (Rodale) folks were proponents as well.<br />
<br />
What comes out in urine is partly what has gone into you. If you have mercury fillings and ingest or inhale heavy metals, yes there will be some in the urine. If you don't drink much water, the urine will be more concentrated. If you drink a lot of water, it will be more dilute. If you eat a lot of salt, the urine can have high amounts of…
There have also been some threads on GerdenWeb about use of human urine, and the old Organic Gardening and Farming (Rodale) folks were proponents as well.<br />
<br />
What comes out in urine is partly what has gone into you. If you have mercury fillings and ingest or inhale heavy metals, yes there will be some in the urine. If you don't drink much water, the urine will be more concentrated. If you drink a lot of water, it will be more dilute. If you eat a lot of salt, the urine can have high amounts of salts. Many medicines are also cleared via the urine. Penicillin was processed from the urine of soldiers who were given it, during shortages in WWII. Also, some hormones exit via urine. Narcotics, of course - that's how people are screened for narcotic use. Happy earthworms.<br />
<br />
As for fertilizer, it's mainly high nitrogen. Too much nitrogen leads to green rank growth, good for grass and leafy crops. Trees, given too much nitrogen, will grow very fast, but the wood will be weaker and the tree may not be as freeze tolerant in the winter - especially if applied late summer. Fruiting vegetables like tomatoes may tend to too much leaf.<br />
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However, I doubt that one or 2 people can supply enought urine to make much difference. I might be wrong. If it's rainy, or if you irrigate the area, the urine will wash into the soil and become diluted, and just become part of the natural cycle. I have one area that my dogs generally use, and it does kill the grass if I don't water it regularly. In the center of the area is a ginkgo tree that has grown incredible fast, usually 2 to 3 feet a year, and is becoming a handsome specimen. Other ginkgos in my yard, seeds from the same source, are only 1/3 to 1/2 as big.<br />
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Don't get arrested. Don't flash the neighbors. Don't go in the same spot every day. You'll save toilet water, which is siginficant in dry regions. Water it in so there's no smell. If you have a compost pile, that is another place where you can make use of urine. Again, it's a nitrogen source, so it can help if you are composting paper or straw.<br />
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Back to the backyard orchard, as long as it's not all in one place, it should be OK. Supposedly you should avoid any nitrogen supplement around grapes, they'll be all leaf and no grape, but my grapes are overproductive, if anything, and are right next to the dog area. Same rule would likely apply to any fruit. Moderation, moderation.